Arlo James

See what it's like to be a vulture's lunch

Maybe this legal stuff was harder then he'd given it credit for. It always looked simple on those crime shows on tv. Lawyers showed up, had an argument with each other, one of them discovered something brilliant and justice prevailed. A part of him was almost inclined to ask Sebastian about those very shows and yet....maybe that wouldn't be such a great idea. After all, there was every chance Seb might not be exactly like those tv lawyers or attorneys or barristers or whichever bloody one he needed. Frankly he was glad to take it out off his hands and let the elder vampire deal with it to a certain extent. He just needed to find those damn papers. Which meant going home. Which meant going back when he'd been told fairly bluntly not too. The sudden announcement from the woman beside him that she'd come with him saw that look of surprise find him then. Arlo somewhat doubting that she understood exactly what she was volunteering for. He'd have to explain it to her a little later, another day maybe, Arlo mostly sure she wouldn't want to come then even if a tiny part of him still hoped she might if only so he didn't have to go alone. Ha! The big bad vampire too afraid to go home to Mommy and Daddy alone. Great. Just what he needed her to see. He was trying to impress this girl- not scare her away. He'd have to think on that one. Still, he managed that grin all the same as he looked towards her.

"Sure, Ab's. It's....kinda a drive though."

About thirteen hours worth off driving. To much for him to do in a single night. Road Trip here they came. Hopefully it would be worth it, if they could actually get those papers. Not that there was even any guarantee of that. At least he could say he tried he supposed and hell, maybe there was something they could do even without those original copies and yet trying to prove something was his when he didn't actually have proof other than his word against theirs seemed, well, not all that great an idea. Still, at least Seb was going to help. He seemed like he knew things. Arlo content enough to return that favour of sorts with that agreement to play at their wedding. Even if he didn't exactly have a lot of time to learn a handful of songs he hadn't played in, god, years, let alone meet this new singer and get used to her range and work out how to play with one another. He could do it right? Hell, it was more work then he'd done in a few years but he was sure he still remembered what work felt like. Mostly. Besides he could hardly deny that he was actually....looking forward to it. At least on some level. He'd enjoyed playing once, why couldn't he enjoy it again? Even if the basis for it was some level of petty revenge.

Dorian's insistence that they could stay anywhere in Italy they wanted readily saw the vampire hand that choice over to Abby, after all, it seemed like it was more important to have Abby stay somewhere she liked. He'd be asleep through most of the day anyway so it wasn't as if he was even going to be awake to enjoy a whole lot of that country in the day- or those hotel facilities. Arlo hardly having expected his Little Bear to declare she wanted to stay in the palace. Hell, were they allowed to do that? You couldn't ask a King to stay in his house could you? Wasn't that some sort of royal breach of....royalness? Neither Dorian or Sebastian in the least seemed put out by the question, even if Dorian looked a bit surprised. Still, Arlo hadn't exactly anticipated that the Fae might actually agree to it. Let alone offer them an entire wing. He had no idea what that was but it sounded important and...kinda big really. How big was a room in a palace? Abby's squeal of delight near saw him jolt in surprise before that smile found his own features, Arlo chuckling softly at her clear delight in this before she promptly announced Dorian to be the best. The Monarch apparently taken with that new title. Ellington-Aragona? Was that what they had decided? Wasn't that exactly what he'd told Seb would happen if he just spoke to the dude about it instead of freaking out all over his lounge room? Ha! He'd been right. Arlo managing an almost smug look then before asking about those servants. After all, if Abby was going to be a princess she got servants didn't she? (and him too by default).

Abigail's efforts to hush him hardly lessened that grin on his lips. Arlo not truly expecting that they would actually get any real servants, the vampire entirely taken aback by Dorian's assurance that of course they would have a full staff. As if the question itself had been ridiculous. Sebastian leaning toward him then to announce that two month timeline he had to make a move with Abby. Arlo mostly sure Seb could smack him over the head if he still hadn't done anything in two months. Hell, if he could work up the courage he'd damn well ask her tonight. Later. On the way home. Maybe. Sebstating he looked forward to it as Arlo's own eyes rolled playfully. It was only once that Stag Night had been attended too, a night Arlo thought was important, that the vampire allowed his attention to shift to that dinner. Arlo paused in his efforts to nearly inhale that meal Sebastian had so...contributed too- only to find out which bloody fork he was supposed to be using. Abby holding up the one she was pretty sure that it was. Well- at least they could be wrong together. Arlo mostly sure he could feel Dorian's eyes on him and yet the Monarch hardly commented. Great. It had to be this one. Still he could hardly shake that feeling that Abby was still a little more flustered than usual, his shoulder bumping against her own before that soft inquiry of exactly why she had been waving a fork around and shouting Sebastian's name left his lips. The girl stumbling hopelessly over her words again before suggesting Dorian was...wonderfully encouraging? What had he been encouraging her to do? If it had been to speak up he had damn well succeeded. His Little Bear suggesting she had merely been reminding Dorian off the man he was marrying. Arlo letting one eye lift almost dubiously then.

"So you shouted his name to remind him? That's.....I mean, well, it's different I suppose. Alright then."

His own shoulders lifted in an easy shrug, that lopsided grin flashed again as he returned to his meal. Arlo, perhaps, the only being in the world capable of simply accepting that bizarre answer without any further question. The man instead content to ask about those gardens. Palaces had gardens after all didn't they? Maybe this one had...pretty gardens that Abby would like. Dorian making a sincere effort to describe them then. Gardens weren't exactly his own thing and yet even he was willing enough to see a waterfall, especially if they were allowed to wander around them at night. Arlo inquiring merely for Abby's benefit alone. A part of the man simply adored seeing her, well, happy really. His blue gaze shifted away from the woman beside him then and back to Dorian, his features frowning slightly at the idea of an unusual sort of question. Arlo largely oblivious, in that moment, to how very still Sebastian had become or the veritable importance the other vampire might place on that response. The younger vampire hardly seeming perturbed by the question in any sense as his shoulders lifted in that easy shrug a second time. Arlo helping himself to another bite off his lasagna, that fork twisted about in his hand.

"I mean, yes and no, bud. The thing is, there aren't any other Crusniks, that's what I am- at least- that's what they tell me I am. A vampire that feeds on vampires. I don't have to share my meal with anyone because no other vampires are after the same thing I am. I don't have to be possessive over his blood. I mean, I don't know what would happen if you put another Crusnik around me. Can't make any promises then- all vampires are territorial, it's just what we are."

He paused again, savouring another bite of that meal he had nearly finished, his attention still on Dorian then. He had, after all, been rather.....irritable at Damon for even mentioning Sebastian at all. Arlo hardly sure whether or not that had been some sort of possessiveness over the man or protectiveness. After all, Damon was a bit....unhinged.

"As for protective I mean, I wouldn't let anything happen to Seb if I was around, he does have really good blood and all but that ain't really 'bout the blood exactly. Truth of it is he's the only friend outside Abby i've had in a damn long time. You don't let shit happen to your friends. Vampires are always wary of other vampires, we can't help it, but you don't have to worry bud. I'm not gonna get weirdly obsessive over your boy. It ain't like that. Hell, I'm way, way more possessive over Ab....er.....other.....people."

His gaze glanced briefly sideways to the woman next to him. Arlo shoving another mouthful of lasagna between his teeth if only in some hope it might stop him talking. Still, it was true all the same. He was at least a little protective over Sebastian and his blood when other vampires were around and yet he could hardly help that, that was....instinct. Arlo equally unashamed to admit the importance of that friendship to him. What he might have been like with another Crusnik around he hardly knew and yet really, he doubted he ever would. Still, he was willing enough to at least assure Dorian he hardly sat around at home obsessing over Sebastian. That would be....weird and....a bit, well, gay. Hell, the one he was possessive over was Abby. More than he ever had been over anything in his life. He'd thought he was going to damn near kill Mi the day she had taken to Abby with a broom. He'd never felt anything like that before. He'd never known he could. That- that had been possessive. That had scared even him. Arlo finding that lopsided grin all the same as he finished that last bit of his dinner. Dorian seeming pleased with that response. It was almost cute really, to see a King be just a little acquisitive over his vampire lover in turn. Seb really was lucky.

"We vampires are just weird, bud. I'm still figuring it out myself so don't worry about asking stuff, if i know the answer I'm always happy to tell you, I mean, if I can. Sometimes I don't know either. After my Maker died there was no one left like me, some stuff I just have to work out myself I guess. Do Fae have Makers? Do Were's either?"